Teacher Appreciation Card

Good afternoon! I have a moment in my crazy busy week, and thought I would share what I created for my son's wonderful teacher. She has a lot on her plate with a class full of first graders, and I wanted her to remember what a big role she plays in Patryk's life. 

Isn't that pretty? I used my Ultimate Tool to score and trim the accordion card, and decorated it with Crate Paper's Fourteen line. My Fiskars hexagon punch jazzed up the blue cardstock panels that are hidden on the back when the card is opened up, kind of like patchwork, and it is covered in Studio Calico wood shapes and MME enamal dots.

Now, onto the inside of the card. The stamp and sentiment, inked on the edges with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, are from the S.W.A.L.K. EZ Mount stamp set Best Teacher from Crafter's Companion, colored with my Spectrum Noir pens (that I didn't think to note for all of you wondering how I colored her up!) I had my son write a message on a sheet of white paper and inked the edges of that as well.

Because the image sticks out beyond the edge of the fold, I needed to do something to the back of it. I added a strip of paper and black Liquid Pearls. Perfect finishing touch!

I hope she loves her card, and realizes how much she means to Patryk! What did you do for your child's teachers?

xoxo

Khristen

Paper Crafting Challenges #8: No Patterned Paper

Good afternoon! Have you seen the new challenge over at Paper Crafting Challenges? This time, we're asking to see your creations featuring NO PATTERNED PAPER. This can seem a daunting task. However, there are many ways to deal with this problem. I like to create my own background as I've done here on my card:

 I started by splattering different mists across the kraft cardstock -- I used Glimmer Mist in Seven Seas, Fireworks in Angel Pink, and Mister Huey in Water Cooler. When that was dry, I added a border around the image with the Reversed Punchinella stamp from Unity Stamp Co, stamping with a Memento Dew Drop in Rose Bud.

I love this stamp! The image is Wild Rose Studio - Sheep For Ewe colored with my Spectrum Noir pens. After punching the corners with my corner rounder and affixing to a doily, I added some American Crafts Zazz! glitter glue in Taffy.

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to Paper Crafting Challenges and submit your own card or altered item using no patterned paper for your chance to win a free stamp set from Waffle Flower! You have until May 2nd. I can't wait to see what you create!

xoxo
Khristen

CD Envelope Tutorial Using Crafter's Companion Ultimate Tool

Good morning! Yesterday was my wedding anniversary (8 glorious years with the best man in the entire world!), and I always make something for him every year, even before we were married (in fact, today we celebrate the anniversary of the first day we met, 10 years together to the day!) So that's a 10 year tradition I just can't break :)

He was desperate for a new CD for his truck, so I took the liberty of burning him one along with some bonus tracks I thought he'd like. Of course, I was out of jewel cases. What's a girl to do? Why, pull out the Ultimate Tool and Boxer Board and make a custom envelope, of course! Want to make one of your own? Follow along with me and I'll give you the simple instructions. You'll need the following:

• The Ultimate Tool
• Boxer Board
• 12X12 sheet of paper
• Paper trimmer
• Tape Runner or liquid adhesive
• Craft knife
• Scissors
• Stamps and embellishments of your choice

Alright, here we go:

1. Cut your 12X12 paper down to 6X11.

2. Pull out the Ultimate Tool and put the Boxer Board in place. Butt the long side of the paper against the side with the handle and score on the 1/2" mark. Turn the paper and score the other long side, also at the 1/2" mark.

3. Butt the short side of the paper to the side and score at the 5" mark.

4. Turn and score the other short side at 1".

5. Now get out those scissors, and after folding along all scored lines, cut away the long pieces along the bottom and the two small rectangles out of the flaps. Make it look like the image below :)

6. Using your tape runner, get adhesive on the side flaps. When you're done, fold up the bottom piece and adhere the flaps to it...

...like this.

7. PANIC MOMENT. I realized I hadn't yet planned out how I was going to close it. So...I grabbed a pen and marked a half oval that I then cut out with my craft knife. Problem solved!

I used the edge of my craft mat (because I had already adhered the sides!) to cut the half-oval slit. Mistakes can always be worked around!!

 There, now it closes!

8. Choose a stamp and add to the front. I chose the Stamp It Australia EZ Mount Stamp Set 67 - Birds & Butterflies which I stamped with Memento Paris Dusk ink and Rock-A-Blocks. I decided it needed a bit of trim, and loved the vintage-y feel to the paper and stamp....so I chose this roughed-up ruffle in a nice cream color. I used my Collal Tacky Glue to keep it all in place.

The finished product!

9. Add embellishments as you wish. I added a sentiment from the Crafter's Inspiration magazine, not currently available in the store, but watch for it! So many great freebies, like this sentiment. AC Alpha stickers to match the Memento Tangleo ink, and this baby's done!

It's easy to make an envelope for every occasion with the Boxer Board and Ultimate Tool!

xoxo

Khristen

Altered Ceramic Tile + CC Stamps = Awesome!

So...my parents recently moved from NH to TN. While packing, they had a lot of items to part with, and we were happy to take some stuff off of their hands. Among the pile of stuff: a box full of ceramic tile leftover from my brother's remodel of one of his properties. Of course, when I saw the box, I wasn't thinking, "Oh, these would look great on the bathroom walls." I was thinking, "These would make great canvases!" 

And I finally got around to making something with one of them! This will end up somewhere in the house this Christmas, and I plan to make soooo many more.  It's quick and easy, and looks great! Follow along, and decorate your own ceramic tile with Crafter's Companion stamps!

Here we go:

 I started out with my ceramic tile, the Sheena A Little Bit Scenic - Ornate Snowflakes (which I keep in one of my EZ Binder Mini Stamp Storage binder), Claudine Helmuth Rock-A-Block, and Delicata ink (soon to be in the Crafter's Companion store! Yay! I love this stuff!)

 There she is, ready for stamping!

 Cover your snowflake stamp in ink.

 Stamp onto the left side of the tile.  Flip over, and stamp again on the right side of the tile.

 Then use the ink pad and rub along the edges of the tile to create a golden border.

 Now, choose a stamp for the center. I chose the "Merry Christmas" from the Dee Gruenig - Jolly Holly EZ Mount stamp set.

 This time, I inked it up with Forest Green StazOn.

 After stamping it into the center, take it outside and spray some Spray N Seal Satin Varnish over it to seal it in. Spray a few coats on just to make sure it's able to stand up to periodic dusting and cleaning.

That's it! Super easy, and so pretty! I'll be making a lot more of these (due to the fact I have a box FULL of them!) A great decoration for the holidays, or a great gift for a loved one :)

xoxo

Khristen